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# The Latin Year

#### by Mark D F Shirley

The copyright of this article remains with the original author. Articles may be copied or distributed freely for personal non-profit use, provided that the author is properly credited.

The Latin Year
by Alexander Scriptor, scholae Tytali

Despite the fact that we are all taught how the Romans reckoned time as apprentices, and that it is the standard method used by the Order of Hermes, I am appalled at the lack of familiarity that most members of the Order have with this noble system. There is an increasing tend in these days to use the vulgar method of reckoning days, or even worse, the Church method. True, these methods might be more simple than the Roman method, but they lack its elegance and informative nature. Does, for example, the Church method of numbering the days in a month inform us of which days it is inappropriate to start a project? Of course not! Yet every third year apprentice can tell you not to start anything new on the Ides of odd-numbered months - but this information is useless when you don't know when the Ides are!

Here, therefore, is a primer for all of you out there who have forgotten the lessons learnt at your master's knee. Heed it well.

The names we use for the months of the year come from the names the Romans used. There are three fixed times in each month, and all dates are given in reference to these fixed times. The first day of each month was called the Kalends (Latin Kalendis). For most months of the year, the fifth day was called the Nones (Latin Nonas) and the thirteenth day was called the Ides (Latin Idus), but in March, May, July and October, the Nones and the Ides were the seventh and fifteenth days.

The Romans described the date in relation to the next fixed point. So, for example, January the 31st was "the day before the Kalends of February", written as pridie Kalendis Februarias or pridie KAL. FEB. The Romans included the days upon which they started and finished counting. So January 30th was "three days before the Kalends of February" - antediem tertium KAL. FEB, often abbreviated to a.d.III KAL. FEB.

To translate a few more examples:

February 1st: KAL. FEB.

February 2nd: a.d.IV NON. FEB.

February 3rd: a.d.III NON. FEB.

February 4th: pridie NON. FEB.

February 5th: NON. FEB.

February 6th: a.d.VIII ID.FEB.

### Hermetic Dates

The Order of Hermes uses this basic system for all official records. Years are enumerated using the Astrological Ages. The current Age is the Age of Aries (annus arietis), which is accounted to have begun in the 139th year before the birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

For within-House documents, the year is often recorded by Primus. For example, members of my own House, House Tytalus, count this year, otherwise known as 1220 AD and 1339AA, as 85 annus Bulistiis, after our revered Primus Bulistie, who has been primus Tytali for the last 85 years.

There was an attempt, a few centuries ago in the early days of the Order of Hermes, to name the months after the Founders. This system is still encountered in some documents, and I record it here in case it is needed.

January (Ianuárius) was named after Bonisagus. As the Founder of the Order, it seemed right to name the first month of the year after him. It was also in this month that the Code of Hermes was first sworn - a.d. IV NON. BON 906AA, otherwise known as 12th January, 767AD, is a day of great importance to the Order. The abbreviation used was BON.

February (Februárius) was named after Criamon. This month holds a paradox, summed succinctly in the folk saying "As the light grows longer, the cold gets stronger". Though it the first month that day can be seen to be gaining on night, it is also the coldest month of the year. Criamon, of course, was known for his study of such paradoxes. The abbreviation used was CRI.

March (Mártius). The month named after the Roman god of War was most appropriately laid at the feet of Flambeau. The abbreviation used was FLA.

April (Aprílis) was named after Merinita, this month of Spring and fertility seeming most appropriate for her. The abbreviation used was MRN.

May (Maius). The month of may is an earthy month, and controlled by a zodiacal sign of animal power - Taurus. It is thus suitable for Bjornaer. The month is abbreviated as BJO.

June (Iúnius), the month of Gemini, suits the Founder Mercere. He had two sides - Mercere the magus, who was instrumental in bringing the Founders together, and Mercere the Redcap, diligent messenger of the Order. The abbreviation used is MRC.

July (Iúlius) is the month at the high point of the year, and was well-matched to the lofty ideals of Jerbiton. It is a month of fairs and festivals, where all mundane life meet. The month is abbreviated to JER.

August (Augústus) was made the month of Verditius. In Roman times, there were three festivals to the God Vulcan in August, and Vulcan was the god of Artificers. The abbreviation used was VER.

September (Septémber) is a month of rulers, under the sway of the virgin-queen Virgo. It is suitable for those masters of politics, House Tremere. It is usually abbreviated to TRE.

October (Octóber) was named after Guernicus. The Founder who wrote Hermetic Law was embodied by the month that is largely ruled by the astrological sign of Libra. The abbreviation used was GUE.

November (Novémber) was named after Díedne, for this month was the first month in the year of her people. The system of naming the months after the Founders has not persisted to the modern day except in ritual form, when it is used, this month is called mensis sine nomine (the month of no name), or MSN.

December (Decémber) was given to Tytalus, the winter being a most trying time for most, suiting Tytalus's philosophy that only through trial comes growth. The abbreviation used was TYT.